CHATTOGRAM, Aug 10: Passenger train movement remained suspended since July 19, causing untold sufferings to people across the country. The government decision taken on August 1, to resume train service on short distance, was later suspended due to students' movement.
According to Bangladesh Railway on July 16, rail lines in Dhaka, Gazipur, Chattogram, Feni, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and many other areas were blocked during protests for quota reforms. Train service was interrupted for hours.
On the following day, train service returned to normal.
On July 18, train service was suspended amid a 'complete shutdown' declared by the protesters.
A section of the rail line between Dhaka and Mohakhali was torched and the tracks were blocked on that day.
The rail tracks on the Tongi-Bhairab section of the Narsingdi rail line were removed. Rail lines were blocked at many places outside Dhaka.
Amid lack of security, authorities suspended train service was suspended on different ous routes since that afternoon.
A week later, on July 25, the railway announced that train service would be resumed on a limited basis. However, it reversed the decision. Asked a senior official of Bangladesh Railway said that the authorities did not yet take any decision to resume train movement.
Movement of cargo and container trains faced disruption since July 18. The port's yard is currently stockpiled with over 2,500 TEUs (Twenty-foot equivalent units) of Kamalapur ICD-bound containers, much higher from its capacity of 876 TEUs.
